Handle grip for shopping bags



be; so, 1969 DM ET AL 3,486,684

. HANDLE GRIP FOR SHOPPING BAGS Filed April 50, 1968 REUBEN H. DILLS .EARL WILSON INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,486,684 HANDLE GRIP'FOR SHOPPING BAGS Reuben H. Dills, Seattle, Wash., and Earl Wilson, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Sales & Services, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Filed Apr. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 725,441 Int. Cl. B65d 33/12 US. Cl. 22954 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A handle grip for shopping bag handle loops which is sleeved onto one of the loops and snaps over the other loop;

The present invention relates to an improved handle grip for holding shopping bag handles of the type comprising dual handle loops attached at opposite sides of the bag. These loops are usually formed of cord and when the shopping bag is heavily loaded the cord loops tend to dig into the shoppers hand. As a consequence of the resulting discomfort, shoppers have in the past tended to shy away from use of such bags for carrying canned goods and other heavy articles. This has resulted in the use of barrel sacks in most so-called super markets, which has in turn commonly required the use of bag boys to assist shoppers in carrying their bagged purchases from the check-out stands to their automobiles, particularly if more than one such bag of goods was purchased, or has resulted in the need of shopping carts for transport from the store to the vehicles or home destinations.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved handle grip of unusually simple and economical construction which will be permanently attached to the shopping bag and can be easily moved into operative position gripping both of the loops to spread the load over more of the shoppers hand area and thereby eliminate the discomfort experienced in the past with the bare handle loops.

Other more particular objects and advantages of the invention will, with the foregoing, appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims, the invention consisting in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shopping bag fitted with the handle grip of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the handle grip shown mounted on one of the handle loops of the bag, the loop being shown in section, and with the other handle loop shown in phantom at the start of insertion;

FIG. 3 is a view taken as in FIG. 2, but with the handle grip 'applied to both loops;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a modified handle grip.

Referring to the drawings, the handle grip of the present invention is illustrated applied to a shopping bag 11 having a pair of conventional handle loops 12-12' at the top secured to the bag in any suitable manner such as by gummed tape 13 or staples. The term cord is used in this description and accompanying claims in the broad sense in that the handle loops can be a single twisted paper strand, multiple woven fiber strands, plastic or metal wire, etc.

The grip 10 is formed by extruding a strip of suitable Patented Dec. 30, 1969 inexpensive resilient plastic such as polyethylene to the desired cross-section and then cutting into individual handle pieces about 3 inches long. In the first embodiment, FIG. 2, the handle is generally trapezoidal in outline having a base 15, sloped sides 16-17, and with a top interrupted along one of its halves by a tapered entry 18 to a channel 20. This channel expands laterally toward the side 16 and is partially closed at the top by a downwardly sloped lip 21 at the outer side of the entry 18. The channel 20 is complemented by a longitudinal bore 22 extending through the other half of the handle. If desired, the sloped sides 1617 may be printed with advertising.

The handle grip 10 is applied to one of the handle loops 12 before the loop is secured to the bag 11. This is accomplished merely by threading the cord for the loop through the bore 22 and then securing the ends of the cord to the bag such that the base 15 of the handle grip faces inwardly toward the mouth of the bag. The handle grip is longitudinally flexible so as to archat the top of the handle loop 12.

When the bag has been filled with articles the grip 10 is held in the palm of one hand and then the free handle loop 12 is shifted over the top of the grip with the other hand to the FIG. 2 position and then pressed downwardly by the thumbs through the entry 18 into the channel 20. During this operation the lip 21 and associated side wall of the grip are sprung outwardly as indicated in FIG. 2 to permit the handle cord to pass through the entry whereupon they then spring back so that the lip 21 retains the cord as shown in FIG. 3. The shopper then can comfortably lift the bag by the handle grip with the grip base 15 against the palm. When the shopper arrives at his destination the handle loop 12' occupying the channel 20 can be easily snapped free of the grip to open the bag without damage to the handle so that the unit may be used again.

The cross-section of a modified embodiment 10' of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 wherein corresponding portions have been indicated by priming the identifying numerals. In this species the channel 20' has its wall serrated providing longitudinal teeth 24 for gripping the cord of the handle loop. As before, the entry 18' is narrower than the channel and the cord to be inserted, and the lip 21' adjoining the entry is flexible enough to spring outwardly during introduction of the cord. When this lip springs back, the teeth 24 achieve a firm grip and help resist opening of the channel 21. As indicative that the outer contour of the handle grip may be varied, the sides 16'17 have been rounded.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of my now-preferred illustrated embodiment. Changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is accordingly my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A handle grip for a shopping bag having a pair of handle loops comprising, 'an elongated longitudinally flexible body having a longitudinal bore for receiving one of said loops endwise therethrough for permanent attachment to such loop, and having a longitudinal channel for the other handle loop with opposed side Walls having a longitudinal entry therebetween through which said other handle loop may be introduced, at least one of said side Walls having longitudinal teeth for gripping said other handle loop, and the outer of said side walls being laterally flexible.

2. A handle grip for a shopping bag having a pair of cord handle loops comprising, a length of extruded flexible synthetic plastic material having a uniform crosssection providing a longitudinal channel for receiving one of the handle loops and means for holding the other handle loop, said channel having opposed side Walls with a longitudinal entry therebetween through Which said one handle loop may be introduced, at least one of said side walls having longitudinal teeth for gripping such loop and one of said side walls being laterally flexible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,023,098 12/1935 Poyer 22954 2,041,691 5/1936 Becklin 22954 3,083,366 3/1963 Franges 224-56 X 10 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

